Illinois House rejects gross receipts tax plan

Friday

The Illinois House went on record Thursday as overwhelmingly opposed to the gross receipts tax proposed by Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

The Illinois House went on record Thursday as overwhelmingly opposed to the gross receipts tax proposed by Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Not one representative voted in favor of a resolution asking if Illinois should adopt the tax. A total of 107 voted against the non-binding resolution and seven voted "present."

Several House members said the resolution will send a message to Blagojevich that the tax has no support in the House and that the governor should begin discussions on some other form of tax increase.

Shortly before the vote, Blagojevich issued a statement asking all House members to vote against the tax he championed just the day before during a Committee of the Whole hearing on the tax.

"Considering that this meaningful dialogue was initiated just 24 hours ago, it would be premature to conclude the discussion today and ask members to make a decision before they have an opportunity to get answers to their questions and offer their ideas,'' Blagojevich said in a statement released Thursday morning. "So we are asking all members to vote `no' to send a clear message that this issue is too important for a rush to judgment on a non-binding resolution.''

Blagojevich's office denied the governor was trying to put a positive spin on a vote he knew he was going to lose.